Railway-traffic-controlling apparatus



I l I J R. A. M CANN INVENTOR I 1M mu" Original Filed Feb. 14. 1924 RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS March 15', 1927.

TL I

Reissuecl Mar. 15, 1927.

' UNITED STATES Re. 16,571 PATENT OFFICE.

RONALD A. MCCANN, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION SWITCH 8c SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

BAILWAY-TBAFFIC-CONTROLLING APPARATUS.

Original No. 1,512,120, dated October 21, 1924, Serial No. 692,682, filed February 14, 1924. Application for reissue filed April 3, 1926. Serial No. 99,656.

My invention relates to railway trafiic controlling apparatus and particularly to apparatus of the type whereln governing means on a train are controlled by alternating currents-which are supplied to the track rails in accordance with t raific conditions in ad Vance of the train. More specificallymy 1nvention relates to apparatus of this type wherein the alternating train governing currents in the track rails are superposed upon direct current track circuits including storage batteries, and wherein rectifymg devices supplied from the source of alternating cur rent are provided for the purpose of charging such storage batteries. 7

One feature of my invention 1s the provision in apparatus of the typedescribed of means for preventing false 1nd1cat 1ons on a train due to periodic current applied to the track rails by such rectifiers.

In the accompanying drawing, Flg. 11s a diagrammatic view showing one form and arrangement of trackway apparatus embodying my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are vlews howing modifications of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 and also embodying my 1nvention.

Similar reference characters refer to s1m1- lar parts in all three views.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the reference characters 1 and 1 designate the track-rails of a railroad over which traflic normally moves in the direction of the arrow. These rails are divided, by means of insulated o 1nt s 2, into a plurality of successive track sections of which only one section A-B is shown 1n the drawing. D

Located at point B is a trackway s gnal S of any suitable form. As here shownsignal S is a semaphore si nal capable of displaying a Proceed, a aution, or a Stop indication, controlled in any suitable manner in accordance with traflic conditions in ad- Vance. I

The reference character T designates a track transformer having a secondary winding 4 connected across the rails ad acent the right hand end of section A-B. Interposed between winding 4 and one rail 1? of section AB is a track circuit storage bat= tery 3 for the control of a direct current trackrelay B. When signal Sis at proceed great-11111011 alternating curr n 18 pp e to primary 5 of transformer T from secondary 11 of transformer H over circuit controller 10 operated by signal S. The primary 12 of transformer H is constantly supplied with alternating current from some suitable source not shown in the drawing. It is therefore clear that section AB is constantly supplied with direct current, and is also supplied with alternating train governing current when signal S is at proceed or caution. Battery B is arranged to be charged by a suitable form of rectifier from the alternating current source. 'As here shown the charger G is a mechanical rectifier of the usual form and comprises a transformer U having its primary winding 6 connected in parallel with primary 5 of track transformer T. A polarized armature 7 is arranged to respond to reversals in the relative polarity of the current in the primary 6 of transformer U, to connect the right hand side of battery B alternately with the right hand and left hand terminals of the secondary of transformer U. To accomplish this result two fixed contacts 8 and 9 co-operate with armature 7 and are connected with the free ends of windings 6 and 6* respectively. The common terminal of windings 6 and 6 is constantly connected with the left hand side of battery 3. The rectifier therefore operates as a trickle charger to supply unidirectional current to battery The trackWay apparatus here shown is suitable for co-operation with train carried governing mechanism so that when the train occupies a portion of track which is being supplied with train governing current the train receives a proceed indication, and when the train occupies a stretch of track to which the supply of such current is "interrupted, the train receives a stop indication. In at least one form of apparatus arranged to op crate in this manner the train carried mechanism is controlled by the train governing current in the rails through the medium of a pick-up coil in inductive relation with the rails. As shown in the drawing, signal S is at proceed and train governing current is there fore supplied to the rails of section AB and a train roceeding through this section would thereore receive a pr ed n ation.

If signal ;S were at stop the supply of train vgoverning current would be interrupted and the train would then receive a stop indication.

ltshoul'dbe pointed out that with apparatus of this type a portion of the pulsating uni-directional current supplied by charger G will flow in the track rails, and this current might cause a proceed indication to be received on the train in the same -manner as the train governing current. In my invention therefore, to prevent the train from receiving a false proceed indication when the signal in advance is at stop, I arrange at such time to'discontinue the supply of ener gy to transformer U.

In :the modification shown in Fig. 2, section A,'B is provided with apparatus similar to that shown in Fig. 1 and in addition a relay iR .isiconnected "across the rails .adjacent the left hand end of section AB. Section JA is provided adjacent its right hand end with apparatus for supplying the rails with alternating and direct current cnhichapparatusis the same :as already ex- ,plained in connection with the apparatus for section A-B, except that energy issupiplied to primary 5 =oftransformer T and the primary 6 of transformer H from a transformer H similar to transformer H, over a front contact of relay R- instead of circuit controller 910. It follows thatdirect current is constantly supplied to .the rails of both sections and that alternating current .is sup plie'd'to the rails of section AB, as before, only when signal S indicates proceed or caution. It will also be clear that section TA is supplied with. alternating current only when relay QR is energized. 1n 2, the chargers 1G and G are each disconnected from their energy source when the associated train governing transformer is :de-energized.

Referring .now :to Fig. 3, in this modification :the apparatus is the same as shown in :2, except 'that transformers T, U, T and U are :all supplied with-cherzgy from transformer H. It will be clear from the drawing that transformers U and T are energized when signal 'S indicates proceed or caution whereas transformers U and El are energized when signal :S iindicates proceed or caution and relay R is energized. 'Ehe operation-10f :theamparatus will be obvious without flllllillfi'l explanation.

vAlthough I have herein shown and described only. a few iform-s of 'railwayut-raffic controlling apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes :and modifications may ibe made therein withlHTthET-SCQPB oft-he appendedrclaims without departing from the spirit and scope of my hivention.

alrlavingathus 1 ClBSCBlbBdEmy invention, what I a m 15; v

comprising a stretch of railway track, .a battery connected with the rails of said stretch,

a source of alternating curlent, a rectifier interposed between said battery and said source, and means controlled by traffic conditions for at-times disconnecbijngsa-ifil ODHCB from said rectifier.

In combination, a stretch of railway track, means for supplying said stretch with alternating traln governing current, ;a. :batt-ery connected with the rails of ,the stretch, a source of alternating current, air-notifier for charging and ba tery from aid source, and means for controlling said first aneansand the supply of current {to said rectifier in accordance with trafiic conditions,

In combination, a stnet.ch of railway track, a transformer having a secondary connected with the mails-98f [the stretch, a ba ttery also connected with said rails, a rectifier for charging said battery, and .means under the control ,oftraffic-conditions for at times supplying alternating current to said rectifier and :to the primary @of said ,transformer.

In combination, a stretch of railway track, a transformer having -a "first winding connected with the railsiogf the.stretch,.abattery also connected with said rails, a rectifier :for changing saiid battery, ,a trackway signal responsive to :traflic conditions, and means controlled by said signal for attimes supplying alternating current to said rectifier and to a second windingof-said transformer. 2

6. "In combination, a stretch of railway track, a transformer having-a first winding connected with :the rails of the stretch, a batterytalso connected with-said rails. a rectifier for ch arging said birtteryga,trackrelay connected vacross (the Till-1S in advance of-said stretch, and means controlled by said relay iforatatimcs supplying alternatingcurrent to said rectifier-and ,to a second winding of said transformer.

17. combination, a stretch of railway track, :a ilflflCk transformer having a winding connectedacross the rails of the stretch, a battery interposed between said winding and 1611.8 :rail of the stretcl ,-=a rectifier for charging said batter-y, a source 40f alternatingcunrcnnand -means responsive to :traffic conditions in advance of ,the stretch :for at times connecting saidsource with a ,second winding on said transformer and with said rectifier.

8. In "combina ion, .a :SliBet Ch of railway track, a t ck *trans fonneaha-wing a -winding connected across the rails of the stretch, a battery interposed between said winding' and one rail of the=stretch,a rectifier for chargin'gsaid battery,"a source of alternatlng current, means for at tlIl'MZS connecting said source with a second winding on said'transformer and with said'rectifie'r so that when said second winding is disconnected'from'said source the flow of periodic current from said source to the rails through the rectifier is prevented.

9. In combination, a stretch of railway track, a track transformer having a winding connected across the rails of said stretch, a battery in series with said winding, an auxiliary transformer having a secondary connected with said battery, a rectifier interposed between said auxiliary transformer and said battery, and means responsive to traffic conditions in advance of said stretch for at times supplying alternating current to the primary winding of said track transformer and to the primary winding of said auxiliary transformer in parallel.

10. In combination, a stretch of railway track divided into a forward section and a rear section, a track transformer having a winding connected across the rails of said forward section, a first battery connected in series with said winding, means responsive to traffic conditions in advance of said forward section for at times supplying alternating current to a second winding on said transformer connected in parallel with said 5 second winding, a relay responsive to current from said battery, a second battery connected with said rear section, charging means for said second battery, and means controlled by said relay for supplying energy to said last charging means.

11. In combination, a stretch of railway track divided into a forward section and a rear section, a track transformer having a winding connected across the rails of said forward section, a first battery connected in series with said winding, a first rectifier for charging said battery, means controlled by traflic conditions in advance of said forward section for at times supplying said winding and said rectifier with alternating current, a second battery connected across the rails, ofsaid rear section, a second rectifier for charging said battery, and means responsive to traflic conditions in said forward section and in advance of said forward section for at times supplying alternating current to said second rectifier.

12. In combination, a section of railway track, a track circuit for said section including a storage battery constantly connected across the rails, a rectifier for charging said storage battery, and means for supplying alternating current to said rectifier and for supplying alternating train governing cur- "rent to the rails of said section under safe trafiic conditions in advance, but for discontinuing the supply of such alternating current to both the rectifier and the track rails under unsafe traffic conditions in advance.

"13. In' a continuous inductive train control system for railroads, equipped with direct current track circuits and a floating charge system, the combination with the track battery and its charging circuit, of means for interrupting said charging cir' cuit whenever the next block in advance is occupied.

14:. A train control system of the character described, having in combination with a track battery and a charging circuit therefor, a circuit'controller in said charging circuit opened whenever the next block in advance is occupied.

15. In a train control system for railroads having blocks equipped with direct current track circuits, means for supplying alternating current across the track rails at the exit end of each block in series with the track battery, only if the block next in advance is not occupied, a charging circuit for the track battery including a source of alternating current and a rectifier, and means for interrupting the charging circuit for the track battery of each block if the block next in advance is occupied.

16. In a train control system for railroads, equipped with direct current track circuits, the track batteries of which are maintained charged by a floating charge system, means controlled in accordance with trafiic conditions for impressing across the track rails at the exit end of each block a fluctuating voltage, provided the next block in advance is not occupied, and means for preventing the application of Such fluctuating voltage from the floating charge system.

17. In a train control system, the combination with a direct current track circuit having a storage battery for the track battery, a source of alternating current connected at times under predetermined traflie conditions in advance across the track rails at the exit end of each block, and means for charging the track battery from said source but preventing the application of a fluctuating voltage from said source under said predetermined tratfic conditions.

18. A system of train control of the character described, comprising in combination with direct current track circuits and a floating charge system for the trackbatteries thereof, means for interrupting the charging of each track battery while the track of the block in advance is occupied.

19. In a train control system, the combination with a direct current track circuit having a storage battery for the track battery connected across the track rails in series with a resistance, a source of alternating curlupin 121-" A c ntinmu in uc ive IEaisqomfi o sygfiem ielwmtm'iz d W ki he 11.5% m .s,tor&ge atte y :and a sha ging ilzcui mi qinfltiaally cqn rrolled i aceond nce with naflic co diio s no pnovide wh rgiqng mnmn fQ i ih at yy an a twin 001E191 Qmur nt- RONALD A MOGANN. 

